Constructing a new world. Featuring commentary and reviews on games and their systems.

I wanted to weigh in on the optimization issue that so many others are talking about.

Optimization, shmoptimization.

If there is an optimal path, then the game is doing it wrong.

Games are supposed to be about meaningful choices. Should I take talent A over talent B? Should I go left or right? These choices are not inherently meaningful of one if them is wrong! In an ideal game, choice A and choice B should be equally valid choices that only affect the actual play style of the game. If choice A makes the game more fun, take it. If choice B makes the game more fun as opposed to A, then take that. Both of the paths that these choices lead to have an equal chance of allowing you to succeed, but how that is done is different. If you choose to dual wield over single wield, then combat is faster and lighter feeling. If you choose to single wield, combat is slower but harder hitting.

This is probably incredibly hard to do for an MMO, and would require self adjusting talents which change as you take other talents, but I think it's doable. The question is why hasn't it been done yet?